Wednesday, 22 July 2015

22 July 2015

Collects

Prayers
developed from the daily readings

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Morning
Prayer

Psalm
51

With
the psalmist we ask for God’s mercy for sins to be forgiven, transgressions
washed away: blotted out. We admit that our sin was against God alone
and God’s judgement is justified. Since God desires truth, we ask to be taught
wisdom in our secret heart. We want to experience joy and gladness again since our
whole being is crushed in recognition of our sin. “Create in me a new heart, O
God and put a right spirit within me” (v.10).

2 Samuel 5: 6 – 25

David seizes Jerusalem, the last town of the Canaanites, strategically located between Israel and Judah and a city belonging to neither.

King Hiram of Tyre sends messengers, carpenters,
masons and cedar to David and builds his house. At that point David accepts
that he has been made king. He takes on more wives and concubines. His family
grows.

The Philistines raid Rephaim. David prays and asks God
whether he should engage them and will he win the battle. The Lord gives him
the Philistines in battle.

The Philistines come again and David again prays. This
time God tells him not to face them directly but to come around to their rear
and come up to them opposite a particular set of trees. When David hears the
sound of marching in the tops of the trees they are to be alert for the Lord
has gone out before them to strike down the army. David does as he is told and
clears the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

John 7: 14 – 31

In the middle of the festival of the Booths Jesus goes
to the temple to teach. People are amazed at his knowledge and debate about
where his knowledge comes from. Jesus’s knowledge, message and purpose are all
from and for God.

Jesus challenges them on their hypocrisy of which
parts of the law they allow to be kept or not kept on the Sabbath (circumcision
or healing).

They try to arrest him but this is not the right time
and he avoids capture.

The people debate whether Jesus is the Messiah or not.

Collect for
Morning Prayer

In Di's garden
Mandurah WA 2014 L Osburn

Almighty
and wonderful God, in all the seasons of our lives your wisdom, your joy, your
gladness and your freedom are what we seek and what you offer. Help us to pray
often and deeply so that we know you as well as a child knows their loving
parent. Open our hearts and minds to listen to your judgements, your strategies
and your plans. Clean us Lord through your spirit of love so that we keep our
hearts and minds open to you and create our world around you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Evening
Prayer

Psalms
52 and 53

In
the first psalm a person who trusts riches, seeks refuge in wealth and who is
mischievous and plots destruction is warned that God will respond. In
comparison, those who trust in God are like a green olive tree, trusting in the
steadfast love of God and praising God.

The
second psalm is about those who do not believe and who do evil. God’s response
to them will be terrifying. The psalmist prays for the people to be delivered
and for their fortunes to be restored.

Proverbs 6: 6 - 19

Consider the ant. Without commanders or rulers they
work hard and store food. How long will you stay resting and lazy? ‘Just a
little rest: Just a little slumber’. Poverty will come on your and want like an
armed warrior.

Scoundrels and villains will be confronted by calamity
and suddenly, in a moment, damage beyond repair.

There are the things the Lord hates: haughty eyes, a
lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, hearts that devise wicked plans, feet
that hurry to do evil, a witness that testifies falsely and anyone who sows
discord in a family.

Romans 2: 12 – 24

Paul talks of the basis for God’s judgement. For the
Jews, they have the Mosaic Law and will be judged according to that. Are they
guides to the blind, lights in the darkness, correctors of the foolish and
teachers of children? And for those of other nations their consciences will guide
them and be their defence before God.

Paul also says that those who have the Law and break
it are the ones who are blaspheming, for those of other nations see and
discount the value of God.

Collect for
Evening Prayer

The garden reflected
Mandurah WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy
and righteous God you are the one who knows our hearts and minds and you are
the only one to judge. Give us the strength and courage to put aside all laziness,
pride and disrespect. Help us hear your word and your way and choose always to
trust in your steadfast love, praise you in everything and get on with the work
so that we are loyal to you, to all our fellow believers and to everyone in the
world who has a good conscience through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.